3D time-dependent numerical study of the influence of the melt flow on the interface shape in a silicon ingot casting process

The influence of important process parameters like the size of the mould, crystallization rate and slight tilting of the mould (1–3°) on the shape of the solid–liquid interface is studied for an industrial silicon ingot casting process by 3D time-dependent simulations using the software package STHAMAS3D. It turns out that melt convection has such strong influence on the results that it must be considered in the simulations.